PRC Newsletter - June 2019 - Creating Connections

Whole Learners Logo

Creating Connections: Increasing Student Engagement with Whole Learners©

Research clearly shows that students who are connected to caring adults in school are healthier and more successful academically. Understanding the benefits of caring, connected relationships between students and school staff, HYD-PRC’s Paul Snyder, Pam Moore, and Abigail Gadea have spent the better part of a decade working with Minnesota schools and educators on teacher training and tools to build, strengthen, and sustain these relationships.

Whole Learners©, a year-long teacher professional development program, was created with formative research findings from teachers and school administrators throughout Minnesota. This program focuses on building strong relationships between teachers and students, and supporting teachers in addressing developmental needs of young adolescents, promoting student engagement in school.

Whole Learners© has been implemented and evaluated in rural, suburban, and urban middle schools through Minnesota Partnerships for School Connectedness (2010-2014, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences) and Partnering for Healthy Student Outcomes (2014-2019, funded by the CDC) research studies. Evaluation of this program shows positive outcomes for both teachers and students. Whole Learners© effectively supports teachers in building strong relationships with their students, increases student engagement, and improves classroom culture and climate.

Due to the success of the program, HYD-PRC is currently expanding reach and access to the program. Co-developer Abigail Gadea notes that a Whole Learners© training curriculum for teachers and student services staff and a train-the-trainers model are both in place. Currently in process is an online platform for Whole Learners© training. “Whole Learners© aids teachers and school professionals in building and maintaining caring relationships that research tells us are key to students’ health and academic success,” stated Gadea. “Seeing the success of the Whole Learners© program in Minnesota propelled us to make this training available to school professionals across the country.”

Related to the Whole Learners© program, Gadea and colleagues are offering a training this summer for school professionals. It’s all about Relationships: Understanding and Connecting with Adolescents is an exciting opportunity for teachers and student services staff to take a deep dive into early adolescent development, and explore developmentally-tailored, relationship-oriented approaches that enhance their ability to connect with their adolescent students.

Educators agree, Whole Learners© works. One middle school teacher remarked: “This program has filled my teaching toolkit and can be considered one of the most formative experiences in my teaching career.” Another noted: “I found it exhilarating…it was a helpful, caring, and supporting format. This is a program that I wish all teachers could experience.”  Gadea is excited about training more educators and student services staff on this program. “With the growing body of research supporting this approach, and the positive results and feedback we’ve had from both teachers and students, the Whole Learners© team is excited about future training opportunities, and expanding our reach in Minnesota and beyond!”

For more information, visit the  Whole Learners© website  or follow Whole Learners© on Twitter or Facebook.